विस्तार एष कथितः पृथिव्या मुनिसत्तमाः सप्ततिस् तु सहस्राणि तदुच्छ्रायो ऽपि कथ्यते
Thus the expanse of the earth has been described, O best of sages; now its height, which is seventy thousand, will also be told.
दशसाहस्रम् एकैकं पातालं मुनिसत्तमाः अतलं वितलं चैव नितलं सुतलं तथा
Each of the nether regions, O best of sages, is ten thousand in measure: Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Sutala as well.
तलातलं रसातलं पातालं चापि सप्तमम् कृष्णा शुक्लारुणा पीता शर्करा शैलकाञ्चनी
Talātala, Rasātala, and Pātāla as the seventh; black, white, red, yellow, gravelly, rocky, and golden are the soils there.
भूमयो यत्र विप्रेन्द्रा वरप्रासादशोभिताः तेषु दानवदैतेयजातयः शतशः स्थिताः
There, O foremost of Brahmins, are lands adorned with splendid palaces, and in them dwell hundreds of races of Dānavas and Daiteyas.
नागानां च महाङ्गानां ज्ञातयश् च द्विजोत्तमाः स्वर्लोकाद् अपि रम्याणि पातालानीति नारदः
And the kin of the great-bodied serpents, O best of twice-born, the nether worlds are said by Nārada to be more delightful even than heaven.
प्राह स्वर्गसदोमध्ये पातालेभ्यो गतो दिवम् आह्लादकारिणः शुभ्रा मणयो यत्र सुप्रभाः
He spoke in the midst of the dwellers of heaven: 'Having gone from the nether worlds to heaven, one finds there radiant, delightful jewels.'
नागाभरणभूषाश् च पातालं केन तत्समम् दैत्यदानवकन्याभिर् इतश् चेतश् च शोभिते
And the ornaments of the serpents adorn Pātāla; by whom can that realm be equaled, adorned here and there by the daughters of Daityas and Dānavas?
पाताले कस्य न प्रीतिर् विमुक्तस्यापि जायते दिवार्करश्मयो यत्र प्रभास् तन्वन्ति नातपम्
In Pātāla, who would not find delight, even one who is liberated? There, the rays of the sun and moon give light but do not cause heat.
शशिनश् च न शीताय निशि द्योताय केवलम् भक्ष्यभोज्यमहापानमदमत्तैश् च भोगिभिः
Nor does the moon bring cold at night, but only illumination; and there, intoxicated serpents enjoy abundant food and drink.
यत्र न ज्ञायते कालो गतो ऽपि दनुजादिभिः वनानि नद्यो रम्याणि सरांसि कमलाकराः
There, even when time passes, it is not perceived by the Dānavas and others; there are delightful forests, rivers, lakes, and lotus-ponds.
पुंस्कोकिलादिलापाश् च मनोज्ञान्य् अम्बराणि च भूषणान्य् अतिरम्याणि गन्धाद्यं चानुलेपनम्
The delightful calls of male cuckoos and other birds, the most charming ornaments and garments, and exquisite fragrances and ointments—
वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानां निःस्वनाश् च सदा द्विजाः एतान्य् अन्यानि रम्याणि भाग्यभोग्यानि दानवैः
The constant sounds of the vīṇā, flute, and mṛdaṅga, O twice-born, and many other pleasing things—these are enjoyed by the fortunate among the Dānavas.
दैत्योरगैश् च भुज्यन्ते पातालान्तरगोचरैः पातालानाम् अधश् चास्ते विष्णोर् या तामसी तनुः
They are enjoyed by Daityas and serpents, those who dwell in the various regions of the netherworlds; and below the netherworlds abides the dark form of Viṣṇu.
शेषाख्या यद्गुणान् वक्तुं न शक्ता दैत्यदानवाः यो ऽनन्तः पठ्यते सिद्धैर् देवदेवर्षिपूजितः
The Daityas and Dānavas are unable to describe the qualities of him called Śeṣa, who is known as Ananta, worshipped by Siddhas, gods, and divine sages.
सहस्रशिरसा व्यक्तः स्वस्तिकामलभूषणः फणामणिसहस्रेण यः स विद्योतयन् दिशः
He appears with a thousand heads, adorned with the auspicious svastika and lotus, and with thousands of jewels on his hoods, he illumines all directions.
सर्वान् करोति निर्वीर्यान् हिताय जगतो ऽसुरान् मदाघूर्णितनेत्रो ऽसौ यः सदैवैककुण्डलः
For the welfare of the world, he renders all the Asuras powerless; his eyes are rolling from intoxication, and he always wears a single earring.
किरीटी स्रग्धरो भाति साग्निश्वेत इवाचलः नीलवासा मदोत्सिक्तः श्वेतहारोपशोभितः
He shines, crowned and garlanded, like a radiant white mountain with fire; clad in blue, swollen with pride, and adorned with a splendid white hood.
साभ्रगङ्गाप्रपातो ऽसौ कैलासाद्रिर् इवोत्तमः लाङ्गलासक्तहस्ताग्रो बिभ्रन् मुशलम् उत्तमम्
He is like the supreme Kailāsa mountain, with waterfalls and clouds; his hand holds a plough and bears the excellent mace.
उपास्यते स्वयं कान्त्या यो वारुण्या च मूर्तया कल्पान्ते यस्य वक्त्रेभ्यो विषानलशिखोज्ज्वलः
He is worshipped by his own radiance and by the form of Varuṇī; at the end of the age, from his mouths, blazing flames of poison arise.
संकर्षणात्मको रुद्रो निष्क्रम्यात्ति जगत्त्रयम् स बिभ्रच्छिखरीभूतम् अशेषं क्षितिमण्डलम्
Rudra, in the form of Saṃkarṣaṇa, emerges and devours the three worlds; he bears the entire earth, raised up like a peak.
आस्ते पातालमूलस्थः शेषो ऽशेषसुरार्चितः तस्य वीर्यं प्रभावश् च स्वरूपं रूपम् एव च
Śeṣa dwells at the root of the netherworld, worshipped by all the gods; his power, might, true nature, and very form—
नहि वर्णयितुं शक्यं ज्ञातुं वा त्रिदशैर् अपि यस्यैषा सकला पृथ्वी फणामणिशिखारुणा
Cannot be described or known even by the gods; the whole earth, reddened by the crest-jewels on his hoods, is but a part of him.
आस्ते कुसुममालेव कस् तद्वीर्यं वदिष्यति यदा विजृम्भते ऽनन्तो मदाघूर्णितलोचनः
He rests as if garlanded with flowers—who can speak of his might? When Ananta stretches out, his eyes rolling with intoxication—
तदा चलति भूर् एषा साद्रितोयाधिकानना गन्धर्वाप्सरसः सिद्धाः किंनरोरगवारणाः
Then this earth, with its mountains, waters, and forests, trembles; Gandharvas, Apsarases, Siddhas, Kinnaras, serpents, and elephants—
नान्तं गुणानां गच्छन्ति ततो ऽनन्तो ऽयम् अव्ययः यस्य नागवधूहस्तैर् लापितं हरिचन्दनम्
Cannot reach the end of his qualities; thus he is called Ananta, the imperishable. The sandal paste applied by the hands of serpent maidens—
मुहुः श्वासानिलायस्तं याति दिक्पटवासताम् यम् आराध्य पुराणर्षिर् गर्गो ज्योतींषि तत्त्वतः
Is repeatedly dried by the wind of his breath, spreading in all directions. By worshipping him, the ancient sage Garga truly understood the stars.
ज्ञातवान् सकलं चैव निमित्तपठितं फलम् तेनेयं नागवर्येण शिरसा विधृता मही बिभर्ति सकलांल् लोकान् सदेवासुरमानुषान्
He knew all the results described by omens; by this best of serpents, the earth is upheld upon his head, supporting all the worlds with gods, asuras, and humans.
ततश् चानन्तरं विप्रा नरका रौरवादयः पापिनो येषु पात्यन्ते ताञ् शृणुध्वं द्विजोत्तमाः
Then, O Brāhmaṇas, come the hells, beginning with Raurava, into which the sinful are cast; listen to these, O best of twice-born.
रौरवः शौकरो रोधस् तानो विशसनस् तथा महाज्वालस् तप्तकुड्यो महालोभो विमोहनः
Raurava, Shukara, Rodha, Tana, Vishasana, Mahajvala, Taptakudya, Mahalobha, and Vimohana—
रुधिरान्धो वसातप्तः कृमीशः कृमिभोजनः असिपत्त्रवनं कृष्णो लालाभक्षश् च दारुणः
Rudhira-andha, Vasataptah, Krimisha, Krimibhojana, Asipattravana, Krishna, Lalabhaksha, and Daruna—